Marshall-Putnam Fair offers variety of kids activities

HENRY - The 2021 Marshall-Putnam “Century-A-Fair” is July 14-18 and offers a large variety of children’s activities.

On Wednesday there is the “Kick-off Dinner” in the Activity Building at 5-7:30 p.m. sponsored by Ag View FS, LaPrairie Mutual Insurance, Prairie State Tractor, Rumbold & Kuhn, Ajinomoto Foods, Henry Hometown Hardware, Casey’s General Store of Henry, Ryan J Anderson Law Office, & Marshall-Putnam Soil & Water Conservation District.

The Kids’ Activities kick off on “Tropical Thursday” July 15 with Family Fun Night starting at 2 p.m. Family Fun Night is filled with a large array of entertainment including Ms. Fancy Paints’ Tattoos and Top Hat Productions, Allan Adcock. Mr. Adcock is a very talented balloon artist, ventriloquist, and magician. He will be performing on the stage from 2–7 p.m.

In addition, carnival games, inflatables, children’s train rides, & goodie bags will be offered – all for free. Local Fire Districts will be present to offer a close up view of their fire trucks & equipment. Children will be given the opportunity to meet and thank local heroes who risk their lives to protect our local communities.

A new addition to Family Fun Night is Friendly Farms Petting Zoo & Pony Rides from 3-7 p.m. Children will be able to pet and enjoy animals such as: goats, chickens, ducks, bunnies, and potbelly pigs. Both the Petting Zoo and Pony Rides will also be offered Friday & Saturday from 4-8 p.m. and Sunday noon to 4 p.m. The Petting Zoo will be free every day. The Pony Rides will be free on Thursday, but will have a fee of $2 Friday-Sunday.

The Marshall-Putnam Farm Bureau will be returning with ImAGination Acres. Due to COVID Restrictions, some of the children’s favorites will be taking this year off, but there will be plenty of fun for all to enjoy. There will be a Farm Themed Obstacle Course and Ag Fun Things to Make and Take.

They will be offering an array of activities following this schedule: Thursday noon to 2 p.m. - Silhouette Painting; 2:30-4:30 p.m. - Seed Mosaics, 5-7 p.m. - Slime; Friday noon-2 p.m. - Bubble Making, 2:30-4:30 p.m. - Tie Dye Socks, 5-7 p.m. - Terrariums; and Saturday noon-2 p.m. -Scavenger Hunt, 2:30-4:30 p.m. - String Art, 5-7 p.m. - Build Your Own Insects. These fun activities are sponsored by Marshall-Putnam Farm Bureau Foundation, Marshall-Putnam Ag in the Classroom, J & S Trucking, & First State Bank of McNabb.

Throughout the Fair, the Inflatables will be available for a low cost. A one day band is $5 and a Friday-Sunday band is $10. They will be open on Thursday, during Family Fun Night, for free from 2-7 p.m. Friday’s hours are 4:30-8:30 p.m., Saturday 2-9 p.m., & Sunday Noon-3 p.m. M & K Party Inflatables & Children’s Train are sponsored by Family Farms Together & Peru Walthum Mutual Insurance.

The area fire districts will again be bringing their fire trucks to the fair to let children check out their equipment and the opportunity to ask a real firemen questions. Trucks will be on display Thursday Evening during Family Fun Night from 4 to 8 p.m. Their plans are to also have trucks at the fair on Saturday 1 to 4 p.m. and Sunday noon to 3 p.m. if the trucks and volunteers are available.

In the Hunt Building on Friday at 1:30 p.m. Bingo Blitz will be offered for children 12 & under. This event is sponsored by Eberle Enterprises, Inc, Eberle Brothers Trucking, Inc, & Henry Rotary. That evening, kids can have fun experiencing their own Demo Derby during the Kids’ Power Wheels Derby in front of the grandstand beginning at 7 p.m. Eastend Towing and Spirits of Henry are the sponsors of this great event. There is no cost to enter the Kids Power Wheel Derby, but they must wear a helmet and provide their own battery-powered vehicle. The MP Fair Demo Derby will follow the Power Wheel Derby.

Saturday morning offers several children’s contests beginning with the Down in the Barn Activities at 10 a.m. in the Hunt Building, sponsored by Eberle Enterprises, Inc., Eberle Brothers Trucking, Inc., & Henry Rotary. Contests include Cutest Farmer and Longest and Ponytail for 2-11 year olds. Help the kids stretch their muscles and get those legs ready to take it to the finish line in the Kiddie Tractor Pull; registration begins at 10 a.m. with the Pull starting at 11 a.m. The Kiddie Tractor Pulls are sponsored by Energy Specialists, Peru Waltham Insurance, Family Farms Together, & LaPrairie Mutual Insurance. At 3 p.m., children and adults can use their creative side during the Potato Decorating Contest.

Wrapping up the fair is Sunday Funday! Come at 12 to partake in fun games and races including Bottle Ring Toss, Penny Drop, Water Boat Race, Ryan’s Squirt Gun Ball Blaster, Red Solo Cup Water Gun Race, Horse Wrangling, Water Balloon Toss, and other fun activities. At 2 p.m., join in on the fun with the Fair Trivia Scavenger Hunt! During the Scavenger Hunt, children will learn a little fair history as they visit the fairgrounds while building a souvenir craft! Warning: you may get wet, if you choose to play certain games! Sunday Funday Children’s Activities are presented by The Ryan and Brittney Leech Family and sponsored by Wilson Insurance.

For more details on any of these events, as well as, a full 2021 M-P Fair schedule, visit www.marshallputnamfair.org. See you at the 100th Annual Marshall-Putnam “Century-A-Fair”!